Predatory ADA "Serial Filer" targeting my business for the second time

★★ signal-medium r/smallbusiness · ↑ 140 · 💬 83 · 2026-02-01 · kw: any tool that · open on reddit ↗

Tool

none

Issue

Small business owner sued twice by same ADA litigation firm despite website scoring 100 on Google Lighthouse and 0 issues on axe DevTools, facing $500k EIDL debt with no cash to settle predatory claims.

Cost

$500,000 (EIDL debt) + settlement fees from prior litigation + business closure of most locations

Recommendation

Get malicious prosecution attorney and countersue; present judgment-proof hardship; challenge improper service; verify legitimate accessibility issues before settling (disputed: one commenter suggests ADA mediation process should precede court)

Date context

2026-02-01; prior settlement occurred years prior; COVID-era EIDL context

extracted with

anthropic/claude-haiku-4.5 · 2026-05-08

Body

I am a small business owner in Southern California and I am targeted by a predatory litigation mill. Looking for advice from anyone who has successfully fought back or been through similar situation Background First Lawsuit We were sued by a predatory firm a few years ago. We settled, paid the fees, and hired a professional ADA company to fix every single item they identified. We have not changed the code or the site since that remediation was completed New Claim Same law firm is suing us again, but using a different "plaintiff" Plaintiff's name shows up as a serial filer The "Service" They didn't even serve me (yet?) An advertising firm emailed the complaint (no case number) to my boyfriend’s personal email address Site Our website should be good. It scores 100 on Google Lighthouse and 0 Issues on axe DevTools. I even have a letter from a blind customer stating the site works perfectly for her We are hanging by a thread. We’ve closed most of our locations and are sitting on $500k in EIDL debt from COVID. We literally have no cash to settle again Our lawyer is suggesting we just settle again to make it go away, but we don't have the money. I’ve told him we are "judgment proof" since the EIDL loan essentially means the government has first rights to our assets and we have no profit to take Questions for the community 1. Has anyone successfully used a prior settlement/remediation to get a second suit from the same firm thrown out? 2. Since the EIDL loan is so high and the business is failing, has anyone successfully argued "judgment proof" to get these guys to stop wasting their time? I’m exhausted. It feels like it doesn't matter if your site is up to code, they just keep coming back. Any advice is appreciated For all small business owners out there that have been through this and more, my heart goes out to you!

Top comments (6)

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[score=81] Better-Lunch670

Can we find some politician to lobby against this predatory ADA bullshit already?

[score=114] StoneCypher

You should not have settled. To Reddit's chagrin, these suits are always bullshit. There's always someone who wants to lecture me at length about how real the ADA is. They've never read the ADA. According to the law, you have 30 days to make repairs with no penalties. They're coming after you again because you settled. Get a malicious prosecution attorney. Sue these bastards into the ground and get your old settlement back while you're at it. Here's the most important part. # STOP ASKING REDDIT FOR LEGAL ADVICE I have been taken to court for ADA 14 times. I have won 14 times. 11 times I have made the attacker pay me for my trouble.

[score=120] leks_t

Yikes, I'm sorry this is happening to you. That sounds really stressful and frustrating. I'm not a lawyer, but this is how I would approach it if it were me: First, I’d step back and look at who’s actually benefiting. The law firm makes money when I settle. If I keep paying, I’m making it easy for them to keep suing. That’s not solving my problem, it’s solving theirs. Then I’d try to break the pattern. If they expect me to settle quickly, I’d do the opposite. I’d ask questions, push back, and make it more work for them. The goal is to stop being an easy target. I’d also try to buy time. I’d check if the lawsuit was served properly, ask what exactly I’m being accused of, and point out if I already fixed the issue. Slowing things down gives me more control. I’d do some of my own research too. Just a quick Google search helped me find Rule 11, which looks like something that can be used in California to push back if the lawsuit is being filed just to pressure settlements without real investigation. And if my lawyer seems more focused on settling than protecting me, I’d consider finding someone else. It’s okay to question advice if it doesn’t feel right for you. I know this is exhausting, especially if you’re already in debt and juggling too many problems. But if pushing back now helps stop it from happening again, it might be worth the effort for you.

[score=13] FluffTheQueen

Present your hardship. The business has no assets and is uncollectable.

[score=30] Orangy_Tang

Iirc the ADA has a mediation process before they can take you to court, and they have to show you a legit issue that's impacting a real person and give you a chance to fix it. Why have you jumped straight from letter to court or settle?